Grounding fitting



Aug. 23, 1938. H. CHURCH GROUNDING FITTING Filed Sept. 24, 1937 INVENTOR LEWIS H. CH RCH BY ATTOR EYS Patented Aug. 23, 1938 PATENT OFFICE GROUNDING FITTING Lewis H. Church, Westfield, N. J., assignor to The Thomas & Betts 00., Elizabeth, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application September 24, 1937, Serial No. 165,449

4 Claims.

The invention relates to a grounding fitting having two members, each of which is provided with a clamping seat between which a grounded conductor is adapted to be clamped, and each of which members also provide a hinge bearing for clamping a wire to be grounded. The ground wire serves as the hinge pin for the two members to enable pivotal movement therebetween.

It is an object of the invention to construct a new and novel grounding fitting of the type having two members and in which the grounding wire serves as a hinge pin between the two members so that they will have a pivotal clamping movement therebetween, and at the same time that the pivotal clamping action takes place, the grounding wire is clamped between the two members.

Another object of the invention is to construct a grounding fitting of the type having two pivotal members in which the grounding wire serves as a hinge or pivot pin between the two members, and in which two operating means are provided, the second of which assures effective clamping of the grounding wire.

Another object of the invention is to devise a grounding fitting of the type in which the wire to be grounded serves as a hinge pin between two clamping members which are adapted to grip a grounded conductor therebetween. The hinge bearings, which receive the grounding wire, are ridged or bulged relatively to the axis thereof, so that the wire is bent when clamped between the hinge bearings and a second operating means is provided adjacent to the hinge bearings for assuring suflicient clamping action at the hinge bearings to fully and effectively bend the grounding wire therebetween and to firmly clamp the grounding wire.

Other objects of the invention will be more apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention, in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through the grounding fitting in assembled relation and gripping a pipe, which is adapted to be grounded, and the grounding wire.

Figure 2 is a plan or top view of the grounding fitting with the grounding wire and grounded conductor clamped therein.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the grounding fitting viewed from the grounding wire side.

Figure 4 is a bottom view of the grounding fitting also with the grounding wire and pipe clamped therein.

The grounding fitting to be described herein utilizes two members, each of which is provided with a clamping seat to engage a grounded pipe or conductor and with a hinge bearing to engage a grounding wire. means or screw will clamp the grounding wire between the hinge bearings and the grounded pipe between the clamping seats. In order to more effectively clamp the grounding wire, a

second operating means is provided adjacent to the hinge bearings. This second operating means becomes increasingly effective where the hinge bearings are ridged or bulged and the grounding wire received therebetween is of relatively heavy gauge. Where these conditions exist, the single operating means is subjected to considerable strain in order to create suflicient clamping or compressing action upon the grounding wire to effectively bend the wire into the bulged shape of the hinge bearings. At times, too, with the bulged hinge bearings effective clamping of the grounding wire is diflicult with a single operating means. The second operating means applies its pressure adjacent to the hinge bearings so that its full force is applied between the hinge bearings and the wire is fully bent to conform with the ridged or bulged form of the hinge bearings. The grounding wire is also more firmly clamped therebetween.

Normally a single operating The grounding fitting comprises a clamping member ID having a clamping seat II, which is adapted to receive a grounded conductor P, and a hinge bearing I2 which faces in an opposite direction to that of the clamping seat H. The hinge bearing is bulged or ridged in the direction of the axis of the hinge bearing or grounding wire to be received thereby. Preferably the bulge is arcuate, and that illustrated is convex. One end of the clamping member has a hole l3 for an operating means or bolt, and the other end has a threaded hole 14 for receiving a second operating means, as will be described hereinafter.

A second clamping member "3 has a clamping seat l9. Arms 20, two of which are shown, extend outwardly from the clamping seat, which arms carry a cross member 2| which provides a hinge bearing 22 for a ground wire. This hinge bearing is ridged or bulged in the direction of its axis or the axis of the grounding wire to be received thereby. The bulge in both hinge bearings should conform and hence the hinge bearing 22 is arcuate and concave. This hinge bearing also faces in an opposite direction to that in which the clamping seat faces. A grounding wire hole 29 extends through each arm 20 and the holes are tangent, or approximately so, to the surface of the hinge bearing 22. One end of the clamping member carries a slot 23 to receive an operating means, and the other end has a hole 24 through which a second operating means passes, as will be described. This clamping member also has a pair of spaced ridges 25, one being provided on each side of the slot 23, the purpose of which will appear more fully hereinafter. The spaced arms 20 and the cross member 2| provide an aperture through the clamping member.

The clamping member l8 preferablycarries a socket member 26 in which there is an enlarged opening or socket 21, preferably in alignment with the grounding wire holes 29 through the arms 20, to receive the armor R. on the grounding wire W. A screw 28 is threaded into the socket member and projects into the socket 21 so that the screw may be tightened against the armor and effectively ground thearmor to the grounding fitting and the grounded conductor or pipe P.

The hinge. bearings l2 andi22. are opposed to each othersotthat the bearings engage diametrically opposite surfaces of the grounding wire W. The grounding wire, disposed therebetween is, therefore, subjected only to compression and it is utterly impossible to shear off the grounding wire under theclamping action, regardless of how great a clamping action is-exerted thereagainst. As illustrated in Figure 3, the hinge bearings are ridged or bulged in the direction of their own axis, or theaxisofthe grounding wire to be received therebetween. One hinge bearing has a convex bulge and the other is concave in order that the wire receiving passage be uniform. It is immaterialwhich hinge bearing is convex and which concave. The purpose of the ridged or arcuate form of hinge bearings will be explained hereinafter.

'An operating means or bolt 30 has a head 3| and a nut'32 threaded thereon. The bolt passes through the opening l3 in the end of the clamping member land through the slot 23 in the end of'the clamping member [8. The sides of the nut 32* are engaged by the spaced ridges so that-the nut will not turn when the operating means or bolt is tightened.

A second operating'means or screw 35 has a head 36. This operating screw passes through the hole 24 in the clamping member I8 and is received in the threaded hole M in the clamping member I0. It will be observed that this second operating means is adjacent to the hinge bearings Hand 22. The screw 35 not only serves as a second operating meanswhen mounting thefitting in service position with a grounding wire and upon a. grounded conductor, but also performs a second function in that when it extends through the hole.24 and is threaded in the hole l4, it retains the two clamping members together in assembled relation for shipment and when in stock.

The grounding fitting is assembled for shipment and use by inserting the end of the clamping member l0, carryingthe hinge bearing I2, in theopening between the arms 20 of the clamping member IB-sothat its'hinge bearing is opposed to the hinge bearing 22. The second operating screw 35 is then inserted through the'hole 24 in the clamping member 18 and threaded into the hole Min theclamping member In. The two clamping members are held together by this screw. The operating bolt is then inserted through the :the hingebearings l2 and 22.

through the socket member 26 and the holes 29 in the arms 20 so that the wire projects completely through the grounding fitting and lies between The grounding wire is inserted far enough through the fitting so that the armor R abuts against the end of the 1socket.2'!. in: the socket member 26. The screw 28 for engaging and clamping the armor may or may not be tightened, as desired, although preferably it isnot-tightenedat this time. The oper- .atingboltf30.:.is now pulled through the hole I 3 .until the nutf32engages the clamping member ID sothatthe=bolt1does not obstruct the opening between the'endsiof. the clamping members.

:Theclamping members It) and I8 are now opened-wide enough so that the grounded conductor or pipe -P- maybe inserted therebetween and in engagement with'the clamping seats II and I 9. With the' pipe rbetweenthe seats H and IS, the boltz30ris then: pushed through the hole [3 until its head 3 lz-engages the end of the clamping member- 10, and the end .o'f'the bolt carrying the nut may be' inserted laterally through the slot 23 in the: clamping member-l8 without removing the nutfrom'the end of the bolt. Tightening of the operating bolt 30 draws the clamping seats II and l 9' together so'that'the grounded conductor P is clampedfltherebetween, andsimultaneously the hinge rbearings :'.come together and grip the grounding wire :Wiwhile the two clamping membersarepivoting upon. the wire as a hinge pin. The; groundingxwireiwand the grounded pipe P are, therefore, simultaneously clamped by the operating :means. thefitting touse; it is unnecessary to separate any part; from. the complete'assembly.

It-has'been described abovetthat tightening of the operating :means :bends' the grounding wire into .a ridged zor'bent 2 form,:conforming to the ridgeor arcuate form. of. the cooperatinghinge bearings l.2':and:22. :In order to assure complete bending.of'thexgrounding =wire between the cooperatingzarcuateihinge:bearings l2 and 22, the

secondzoperating means or screw" is now tightened, .andbecause itis adjacent to the hinge bearings, tightening of this second clamping means positively assures that the groundingwire is bentLfulIytQaconform with the ridged or arouatershapeof the'hinge bearings. It also assures that' the grounding wire is firmly'clamped betweenlthe hinge" bearings.

The forming of a ridge or arc in the grounding wire waassures a'firmergrip upon the wire. It is apparent athat it straight hinge bearings were provided,alongitu'dinal pull upon the grounding wire would merely have to'overcome the frictional engagement of *the hinge bearings upon the groundingzwire. With' the ridge or arcuate'bend in the grounding -wire,-a longitudinal pull not only must overcome the frictional engagement of the'*hinge bearings with the grounding wire, but also must overcome theinternal resistance within the wire, due'to its having to be continually bent, as the wire tends to be withdrawn'from It wi'llnbe noted that in putting Val skilled in the art after benefiting from the invention described and taught herein, and so it will be understood that this disclosure is merely illustrative of the preferred form or forms of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A grounding fitting for a grounding wire comprising a pair of clamping members, a hinge bearing upon each clamping member which hinge bearings are opposed to each other sothat a grounding wire received therebetween is engaged on directly opposite surfaces thereof, at least one hinge bearing being a groove facing towards the other hinge bearing which groove is adapted to receive a wire to be grounded, clamping seats upon the clamping members between which a metallic conductor is adapted to be clamped, operating means at one end of the clamping members to force the same together to grip the metallic conductor between the clamping seats and 80 grip the grounding wire between the hinge bearings and within the groove, and a second operating means at the other end of the clamping members to increase the grip on the grounding wire.

2. A grounding fitting for a grounding wire comprising a pair of clamping members, a hinge bearing upon each clamping member which hinge bearings are opposed toeach other so that a grounding wire received therebetween is engaged 40 on directly opposite surfaces thereof, at least one hinge bearing being a groove facing towards the other hinge bearing which groove is adapted to receive a wire to be grounded, clamping seats upon the clamping members between which a 45 metallic conductor is adapted to be clamped, an

50 tween the hinge bearings and within the groove,

and a second operating screw engaging an end of each clamping member adjacent the hinge bearings to increase the clamping grip on the grounding wire.

3. A grounding fitting for a grounding wire comprising a pair of clamping members, a hinge bearing upon each clamping member which hinge bearings are opposed to each other so that a grounding wire received therebetween is engaged on directly opposite surfaces thereof, the hinge bearings being bulged in the same direction to provide substantially parallel bearing surfaces, at least one hinge bearing being a groove facing towards the other hinge hearing which groove is adapted to receive a wire to be grounded, clamping seats upon the clamping members between which a metallic conductor is adapted to be clamped, operating means to force the clamping members together to grip the metallic conductor between the clamping seats and grip the grounding wire between the hinge bearings and within the groove, and. a second operating screw engaging an end of each clamping member adjacent to the hinge bearings to assist the first operating means in bending the grounding wire to conform to the bulged hinge bearings.

4. A grounding fitting for a grounding wire comprising a pair of clamping members, a hinge bearing upon each clamping member which hinge bearings are opposed to each other so that a grounding wire received therebetween is engaged on directly opposite surfaces thereof, the hinge bearings being arcuate in a direction axially with respect to the hinge bearings, at least one hinge bearing being a groove facing towards the other hinge bearing which groove is adapted to receive a wire to be grounded, clamping seats upon the clamping members between which a metallic con-- ductor is adapted to be clamped, operating means engaging the clamping members adjacent the clamping seats to force the same together to grip the metallic conductor between the clamping seats and grip the grounding wire between the hinge bearings and within the groove, and a sec ond operating means engaging the clamping members adjacent the hinge bearings to curve the grounding wire between the arcuate hinge bearings and increase the clamping grip upon the wire.

LEWIS H. CHURCH. 

